WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. (April 14, 2026)—The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music at Monmouth University is proud to announce a multi-act, two-night concert event celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
Called Music America: The Songs that Shaped Us, the concerts will take place on June 4 and 5 at the OceanFirst Bank Center on the Monmouth campus, just prior to the grand opening of the new Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music on June 7. This will be a major contribution to the national commemoration of America’s semiquincentennial and the cornerstone of the Springsteen Center’s grand opening celebrations.
Among the artists scheduled to perform over the two nights are Jon Bon Jovi, Jackson Browne, Rosanne Cash, Kenny Chesney, Gary Clark Jr., Dion, Dropkick Murphys, Shemekia Copeland, Valerie June, Keb’ Mo’, Nils Lofgren, Darlene Love, Public Enemy, David Sancious, Bruce Springsteen, Tony Trischka and Sister Sadie, Mavis Staples, Trombone Shorty and the New Breed Brass Band, Stevie Van Zandt, and Jimmie Vaughan. The Disciples of Soul will serve as the house band.
Each artist will perform landmark songs from American music history. Blues, bluegrass, rock, hip-hop, folk, jazz, country, and gospel are among the genres that will be represented. Narration will precede each performance, giving context to the artist, song, and genre celebrated. Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks.
“Music America: The Songs that Shaped Us is a journey through American music history,” said Robert Santelli, executive director of the Springsteen Center and the concerts’ executive producer. “The concerts reflect everything the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music stands for: the power of music to bring people together, the rich and diverse treasury of American music as a mirror of our national culture, and the inspiration to think about our shared history in these divisive times.”
The concerts are a continuation of the Springsteen Center’s celebration of America’s semiquincentennial, which began in 2024 with the launch of the traveling exhibition, Music America: Iconic Objects from America’s Music History. Music America is currently on display at the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame in Boston.
“We’re honored to bring together some of the most celebrated performers of our time for this once-in-a-lifetime event,” said Eileen Chapman, director of the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music. “By uniting these artists on one stage, we’re creating an unforgettable experience that honors our past while inspiring the next generation who will shape our future.”
Tickets for each concert will be sold separately. They will go on sale at noon on April 21 at springsteencenter.org.
The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music preserves the legacy of Bruce Springsteen and celebrates the history of American music and its diversity of artists and genres. As the home of the Bruce Springsteen Archives, the Center serves as the official repository for materials related to Springsteen and The E Street Band, including photographs, historic memorabilia, oral histories, and more. The Center also explores American music more broadly by producing exhibitions, concerts, and educational programming that interpret and honors the cultural impact of American music past, present, and future.
